Drafted in the 1st round (12th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017 (signed for $4,100,000)

Baz is the top prospect in the Lone Star State this year thanks to electric stuff and promising athleticism. His fastball consistently works in the low to mid-90s and can reach 98. In the summer prior to his senior year, Baz pitched off a bat-breaking upper 80s cutter and used his four-seam fastball as an out pitch. Baz also entered the spring with a more physical frame, clearly having put in the work to get stronger during the offseason season. This spring, Baz showed more of a true slider in the mid-80s with tight, slurvy break. He also throws a sharp curveball with more top-to-bottom action on it and late vertical dive to it. Scouts have projected each of his breaking pitches to develop into plus pitches, though he'll have to work on being more consistent with both. He is a very good athlete with a loose lower half and plus arm speed. He has a relatively compact arm action and outstanding body control, giving him the ingredients to repeat his delivery. Baz is a Texas Christian recruit and is a legitimate two-way prospect for the collegiate level thanks to his plus raw power from the right side. Most evaluators see him as the second-best prep righty in the class behind Hunter Greene, but Baz has the ingredients to surpass Greene going forward due to his more potent breaking pitches.